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Waste & Toxics > Reducing & recycling waste > Our recycling programs > Mercury lights: LightRecycle

Mercury lights: LightRecycle

We oversee LightRecycle Washington, a free-to-use program for individuals and businesses to recycle certain quantities of fluorescent and other mercury-containing lights bought at retail in Washington. Mercury is a toxic substance that accumulates in our bodies and the environment. The LightRecycle Washington program will safely collect and recycle all components of mercury-containing lights to prevent human and environmental exposure.

Logo for the Light Recycle Washington mercury lights product stewardship program.

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Consumer information

What types of lights can I recycle?

  • Individuals and businesses that purchase bulbs at retail in Washington can recycle an unlimited number of mercury-containing compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) that contain a screw base (any length), 15 pin-based compact or linear fluorescent lights (up to 8-feet in length), and two High Intensity Discharge (HID) lights per day.

    Go to www.lightrecycle.org to find a location near you. Not all locations accept all types of lights, and some collection locations may have drop-off limits due to space constraints, so call before going. If the lights are broken, they must be placed in a sealed plastic bag or container before being recycled.

Compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) with screw base

Compact fluorescent lights

Pin-based compact or linear fluorescent lights (up to 8-feet in length)

Pin-based compact or linear fluorescent lights

High Intensity Discharge (HID) lights

High Intensity Discharge (HID) light

Guidance for businesses

  • Businesses can recycle mercury-containing lights in the same manner as individuals, if the lights were purchased at retail. Businesses that didn’t purchase the lights at retail or larger businesses that exceed the daily bulb limit can manage their lights as universal waste. Find more information on how to handle mercury-containing lights as universal waste here.

Why should I be concerned about mercury lights?

  • When broken, mercury lights release toxic mercury into the air, which accumulates in the environment. When a mercury-containing light bulb breaks, some of the mercury is immediately released to the air. Mercury exposure can be harmful to human health. The health impacts from mercury exposure are explained on the Department of Health mercury page.

Environmental handling charge

  • The LightRecycle program is paid for with an environmental handling charge on each new mercury-containing light sold at retail. The charge, currently 95 cents per bulb, helps to ensure that these lights are recycled or properly disposed of at the end of their useful lives.

About LightRecycle Washington

  • LightRecycle Washington is the recycling program for fluorescent and other mercury-containing lights. LightRecycle Washington is run by PCA Product Stewardship Inc., a nonprofit organization chosen by light manufacturers to manage their responsibilities under Washington's mercury-containing lights product stewardship program.

Cleaning up a broken CFL

Related links

Contact information

Kelly Boyle
Kelly.Boyle@ecy.wa.gov
425-561-0392